NEW DELHI, March 31 � The Supreme Court today directed the Government of Assam and Government of India to file fresh affidavits detailing the measures taken in the last three months towards updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and other related issues.
The apex court had, during its hearing on December 17 last, ruled that it would review the progress of its directives after three months. �The progress achieved at the end of three months from today as against the position on the ground mentioned in the affidavit of the Union Government, will be monitored by the court,� it had said.
A division bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Ranjan Gogoi and RF Nariman today asked the Government of Assam and Government of India to file the affidavits in 10 days, furnishing the progress achieved during the three-month period, since its December ruling.
It had ruled that the matter would continue to be heard, as the apex court would resume monitoring implementation of some of its directions. �All the cases be listed in the last week of March, to take note of the progress of implementation of the above directions,� the bench had ruled.
Today the Supreme Court bench was, however unhappy with the affidavit filed by the Government of Assam, as it pointed out several flaws. It asked the State government�s counsel to take the assistance of the State Chief Secretary if necessary, in preparing the fresh affidavit.
The Government of India, which was to file an affidavit regarding the measures taken to detect and deport illegal migrants, fencing of the border etc., however, did not file its affidavit. It has been directed to file the affidavit in 10 days.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court today asked Prateek Hajela, who is the Nodal Officer, to file a status report mentioning the progress achieved in updating the NRC during the last three months.
The hearing was in response to a writ petition filed by the Assam Public Works (APW), which was joined by the All Assam Students� Union (AASU) through an intervention petition.
